Much Kudos to Patrick Hickey, the MAN who is THEDRIVEFORFIVE Blog man, and NY Sports Day writer, took Joe’s spot last night on the NY Hockey Report.  Let me say, Patrick, you are the MAN!

Great commentary, and brought the humor level up about 50 fold.  Case in point….

Travis Zajac - having a name that sounds like an “Arabic Soap Scum Remover!”

He did a great job - and with no disrespect to Joe - our fearless leader on the show, Patrick filled in admirably.  Hope you can do this show a lot more as the season goes…..

Well - home to Philly tonight, who lost a tough one at home to Nashville on a ‘cough up’ by Mike Rathje, allowing Erat to snap one past Nittymaki.  They should be plenty peeved tonight, so it will take a full effort by our heroes to get the two points.  Great opportunity to get a win, and get back into a first place tie with those Rangers, who we will see in a game against us for the first time on Sunday.

BTW - according to Patrick, Craig Janney may come out of retirement, along with Scott Scissons (leaving his police job in Saskatoon), to play for the Isles on an emergency basis.  Janney hasnt had such skating speed, since 1995, so we should be raring to go! LOL!

If you are at the game, see you at Gate 3.  Will be at the NYIBC table.  See ya!

Gary

Unfortunately, I did not see much of the game last night.  On Tuesday nights, if I am not at a home game, I am bowling at Farmingdale Lanes in my Tuesday night Nite Owls mixed league.

It was a great night on the lanes for me.  I shot a 715 series last night (246-267-200).  I have been struggling all season, and for the last two weeks, I have had my “A” game going.  I had a 620 last week.

I got to listen to the last 10 minutes of the game.  I was watching on the big screen in the bar every chance I got.  However, I really did not see a lot of the game.  From what I heard from Steve and Chris, the team did play well, and Marc-Andre Fleury was definitely the difference.  Andy Hilbert got a shot off (one of his 8 of the day) and the puck was literally millimeters away from tying the game.

Viktor Kozlov, replacing Yashin on the top line, got his 5th of the season, with Jason Blake extending his point scoring streak to six games.  Arron Asham, promoted to the 3rd line, got his second to give the Isles a 2-1 lead in the second stanza.  Colby Armstrong scored his first two goals (one in the first and one in the second) to have the game knotted at two after two.

Newcomer Chris Thorburn got a fluky bank shot past Rick DiPietro early in the third period, which held up for the game winning shot.  Fleury stopped 14 of his 33 saves in the last period.

The team played well, but unfortunately for them, they remain in second in the division, one point behind the Rangers, who got another point via an overtime loss to Atlanta.  The Rangers are two points ahead of the Islanders with two more games played.  The Isles get back to work with the Flyers coming to the Island.  Then back to the Steel City for a Saturday night affair.  The Isles are having a game watching party at the Race Palace in Plainview on Saturday.  Why don’t you stop by and watch the game with some close Islander fan friends.

Listen to the NY Hockey Report tonight.  It will be an Islander themed show. Joe McDonald, the host, is off being the official Rangers Mascot, so Patrick Hickey, the blog writer of the DriveForFive blogspot, will be guest hosting with Derek and myself.  We should have a great time busting on Joe, talking about the Isles, and other stuff.  Hope you can listen.  Also - check out the Face Off Hockey show, which follows us.  Go to www.allinbroadcasting.com and check it out.  They are funny, and always provide some good insight.

See ya.

Gary

Unfortunately, our fears were provided yesterday afternoon.

Alexei Yashin is out 2-4 weeks with a bruised knee, as a result of a hit with Matt Bradley of the Caps on Saturday night.  That should put him out until Christmas.  Now we will wish for a real good present under our tree, menorah, and Festivus pole this year.

Now onto the Pens tonight.  It looks like Sid the Kid will be back in the lineup after missing a few games with a groin strain.  The team has missed his 1.5 pts/game average and I am sure will be looking for blood after being pasted by the Isles on Thanksgiving Friday. 

It looks like Brendan Witt will be public enemy number 1 to the Pens.  His big (but clean) hit on Malkin knocked him out late in period 3.  Look for the Penguin tough guys to go after #32.

Eric Boguniecki was recalled from Binghamton of the AHL and will be on the fourth line tonight.  Viktor Kozlov will move up to the first line.  Hopefully, his skills as a Center and possessing the similar puck handling skills of Yash will fold in nicely with Jason Blake.  Arron Asham will take Kozlov’s spot on the 3rd line.  Asham has played inspired hockey of late, and deserves the promotion.

Boguniecki will get some time, as Nolan is rolling all four lines effectively.

The Isles need to keep all their lines flowing as effectively as they did in the last 3 games.  A win tonight would give them SOLE POSSESSION of FIRST PLACE in the Atlantic Division. 

Tell me honestly would any Islander fan EVER BELIEVE that we could actually say THAT?  Wow!

Well - 2 victories in 30 hours.

I guess those media idiots that said that we were the laughing stock of hockey should be all apologizing to us now….

Well, we’re waiting!!!!???

Another super effort by Jason Blake, Alexei Yashin, and all the Islanders were key to a 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals, and pushed the Devils down to 3rd place.  The Islanders are now in a first place tie with the Rangers, but are on top, due to the fact that they are one game in hand over the Blueshirts (2 after they lose to Buffalo tonight…).  Jason Blake scored his 13th and 14th of the season, the latter on a highlight reel goal where he got around the Washington defense and went airborne after ducking the puck behind Olaf Kolzig. 

The third Islander goal was given to Richard Park, who got the puck from a scrum in front of the net, and slid it past Kolzig with 80 seconds before the close of the second frame.

Alexander Ovechkin, the Calder Trophy winner from last season, snapped a shot just about from his knees in the slot, to give the Caps their only goal of the night.

Alexei Yashin suffered a knee bruise with about 7 minutes from the close of the game, on a collision with Matt Bradley.  Although he limped off the ice, the team feels that he should be ok for the game on Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Great atmosphere before the game, as Bob Bourne was the first to be inducted to the Islanders Hall of Fame.  With the retired numbers of 5, 9, 19, 22, 23 and 31, along with the Coach and Architect, Bob Bourne will forever be remembered in Islanders history for his contributions to the Dynasty.  It was a classy ceremony with the unveiling of a great plaque that will be created in the Islander “Garden” that will be set up in the spring.

Jason Blake had Bourne like speed in his death defying moves, scoring the second goal.  Hopefully that goal, years from now, will be among the famous Islander goals of all time.

To all those doubters of the Islanders, and those who thought they would just be a total pushover… LOOK OUT!  We are coming to GET YOU!

Thank you Ted Nolan, your staff, and the team, for giving us fans, something to believe in.  We are loving EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

FOUR STARS

Bob Bourne - A great career - ending in the Islander Hall of Fame!

Jason Blake - 2 goals, on pace for 50

Alexei Yashin - get better soon, buddy!

1. Rick DiPietro - great saves, in excellent form

GOLD STAR

• Tim Beach and Chris Botta for their great job in setting up Bob Bourne Night last night.  Classy ceremony

TIN TWIT

• The Capitals played quite chippy and nasty in period 3.  Led by Ovechkin and former Islander John Erskine (who conveniently got his ass kicked by Chris Simon).  They went after guys the whole game.  Kudos to the Isles for giving it right back, especially Radek Martinek.

NEXT WEEK

Onto Pittsburgh on Tuesday, home to Philly Thursday and back to Pitt for Saturday night.  I know that the Booster Club is going to the Race Palace for the game on Saturday; why not come down and watch with us!

Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Three wins in four days, provided the Isles with a 6-1-1 in their last eight, to leapfrog from 11th to 3rd in just four days.

On Friday, the Pens came into down, and the Islanders played their best game of the season, in a 3-1 victory.  In this game, the Miro Satan show was in full force, as he set up Alexei Yashin for the first goal, and made a great deflection for the second goal.  Jason Blake set up Sean Hill for his first in an Isle uniform.  Ricky D was great in net, only allowing a late goal in the third to Evgeni Malkin, made 35 saves for the home team.

The Isles, after this game, are in a three way tie for first with both the Rangers and Devils, but the Devils and Rangers have one more win than the Isles.

THREE STARS

1. Miro Satan - 2 points - hopefully a confidence booster scoring with little Miro in the stands
2. Alexei Yashin - 2 points - stellar play
3. Richard Park - penalty killing superb play - new shot blocker expert

First of all, to all of you out there, I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving Day Holiday!  May it be one of family, love and good times.

And the Isles gave us a great start to the Holiday!

48-15 shots!  Wow! And 20-1 after 1 period….

I thought that the Isles had done a no shot game (sorry Dee… I was incorrect).  But the team caught the Stanley Cup Champs in a serious funk. I am sure that the flight back to Raleigh was one that they had to put a medical watch on for the coach.  Sloopy is not a word to describe the Canes.

Maybe their cast looked like the ship of castaways on Gilligans Island!

Are Blake and Yashin one and the same now???

What beautiful passing.  They speak each other’s unspoken language.  Again, Ted put four lines and got them all rolling, with the fourth line being responsible for the first goal.  Shawn Bates got a great pass from Richard Park, and shot into a nearly empty goal.

Blake got the Isles number two with a great last minute pass from Yashin that #55 held onto as long as possible, committing Canes goalie John Grahame until he flopped like a dead fish.  All Blake had to do was lift the puck like you learn when you are a six year old mite, which delighted the crowd of nearly 13,000.

Yashin got a shot in front of Grahame that he then did a wrap around to get the Isles the 3rd goal.  That line, with Chris Simon has inspired the rest of the team.

Ricky did not get much work in, which honestly he does not like.  He got left for dead on the first Carolina goal, a power play tally, which the defense did not help out.  He also gave up a goal with 12 seconds remaining in the game.  Before that goal, Miro Satan scored another empty net goal, his fourth goal on the year.

There are many stars tonight (however, I will try to make some different ones for the game - but these are not in any order.  I am trying to recognize some other hard working Islanders).

1. Trent Hunter - la hittin’ machine!  He always has so much energy as he hits the ice.  When the goals start coming, watch out!
2. Arron Asham - great fight!  Got his first REAL ARRON ASHAM chant, and I am sure he is cherishing that still today
3. Ted Nolan - if he is not an early candidate for the coach of the year, then they (media) must be SHOT!

GOLD STAR AWARD

• The Canadian media, who FINALLY gave Alexei Yashin some props.  Maybe they realize (which I have for YEARS), that he finally needed someone to play with, in order to get his scoring going.  Also believing in the Ted Nolan system, helps as well.

TIN TWIT AWARD

• NOTHING bothered me last night.  Just a great result and effort.  That even ding-dongs in Ranger jerseys starting Potvin sucks chants did not irk me.

Again, have a great day today, and we get to see Crosby (maybe - groin injury), Malkin and the rest of the Pens in a matinee affair.  Enjoy!

Gary

I really HATE Darcy Tucker even more (insert your own nicetie here - screw spelling).

The defense really took a stupid pill in the first ten minutes of the game last night in Toronto before playing a much improved 50, but unfortunately for the isles - a 4-2 loss to the Loafs was the final result.

Blake and Yashin are still playing flawless hockey.  Knowing each others unspoken language.  Yashin assisted on the Blake goal, and Chris Simon got the other one.

 Ricky played a decent game.  He was just plastered by his defense who seemed to look like they were back in Arizona in October.

Three games in four days face this team now, as Carolina, Pittsburgh and Washington invade Fort Neverlose. 

I may not write again until Friday night.  I have some serious family issues to deal with, but to all of you that read the blog, I wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day, filled with family and loved ones in a super setting.  For those of you that are not within the 50 United States, I wish you a Happy Thursday!

Gary

Well - as I wrote the last entry, the Panthers scored early in period 2 and the pressure was sliding to the other side of the table.  Florida was cycling well, peppering Dunham with a lot of shots.  The pessimistic side of me was starting to say that the team is losing its luster.

Enter second wind.

A great effort by Arron Asham gave the Isles a one goal lead, his first of the season.  His goal total is only one behind his fight count, but to his credit, as well as the other fourth line guys, they have played brilliant.  Last night, as well as the night before, all the forwards ice times were above the 10 minute mark.  This means that Ted Nolan has extreme confidence in all his guys, as well as keeping them fresh.

Then there is Mr. Dunham…

So many people were up in arms with the selection of the GM’s former teammate to play as RIck Dipietro’s backup for the season.  Not only has #1 been stellar, he has had some spectacular saves.  He has, in almost every case, been the cure that was needed to right the ship.  Although there was no problem with Ricky in the last few games (as a matter of fact, Ricky has been EXCELLENT!), Mike has been a great addition.

Was that pass from Blake to Yashin unreal?  These two guys have been just wonderful together.  Whatever happened to the guys that were supposed on each other like a two sisters angry at each other about the dress that each wants?  Well, in that picture, I think they have all made up and Blakey is trying to get another kiss in. He just can stop doing those french kisses. But you know, if they keep up with their efforts, they can cuddle all they want.

Satan got the empty net goal in the last minute to seal the deal.  I think Silly did a nice thing to se Miro the puck.  Miro has been struggling so much lately, he really needed a fluky goal, or something like this.   Maybe we will see more from #81.

MY THREE STARS:

1. Mike Dunham - no brainer - 43 saves, some of the highlight caliber
2. Alexei Yashin - so strong with the puck.  Keep it up buddy!
3. The Dads! - Did Garth tell you that you are staying all season?  Forget your jobs, forget the wives, you are STUCK Here!

Onto Toronto.  The first meeting with Mr. Peca this season.  So who is going to get the first hit on him?  And would someone please nail Mr. Tucker.

See you tomorrow.  Have a great Sunday.  Go Jets!

PS - My Toffees (Everton - English Premier League) got a 1-0 win against Bolton.  They are 6th in the league.

PPS - sympathies go to the Michigan family on the death of Bo Schembechler.  It made for a great game yesterday, that the Buckeyes won 42-39.  I also feel bad for Rutgers.  That great win against Louisville just seemed to be the over the top feeling.  The team seemed lost yesterday in their loss to Cincinatti, taking away any chances for a national title.

I have been on vacation sinct Thursday, hence away from the computer.  You never know how much you miss your computer, until you are away from it.   Ughhhh.

Anyway, I did not get to watch the game in Tampa last night.  I was out to dinner, and did other things.  When I got into my car and was on the way home, the game had about 90 seconds left in overtime.  From what Steve Mears and Chris King were mentioning, the Isles played a good game.  The two top lines from TB were on just about every other shift.  But the Isles held the line defensively, and got to a shootout.  Tampa finally got one by Ricky on the seventh round.  Andy Hilbert hit the post (the second in the shootout - Kozlov did too), and the Isles lost 3-2.  Great game by Martinek.  Saw the highlights and he looked brilliant!  Yorkie has two in two.

The Isles are now in Sunrise to declaw the Panthers.  After 1 it was 1-0 Isles on a great snap shot by Yash as he got a tap pass from Jason Blake. 

Dunham has his new mask and it looks nice.

Panthers tied up the game early in the second stanza, as an unfortunate clear by Yashin ended up on an Panther forward who dropped it over the sprawling Dunham.

Will make another post tomorrow.  Hopefully the dads continue to give the boys some luck.

I know that the fans in Dallas are not saying:

Y’all come back now, ya here?

The Islanders played a great game, playing a full 60 minute effort, as they record their first shutout of the season as they got a 3-0 victory of the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Arena.

With Mike Ribiero in the penalty box, Mike York got a pass from Miro Satan, to notch his fourth on the season, to give the Isles a 1-0 advantage.

After that goal, the Isles killed a critical 5 on 3 disadvantage for nearly a minute and fourty five seconds, and only allowed one shot on net.

In the second frame, after a struggle in front of DiPietro, Jason Blake gets the puck from Chris Simon and comes racing down the right wing.  After the blue line, he passes to Alexei Yashin, who immediately fires the biscuit back to Blake, who gets to push a shot to a nearly empty net.  Blake’s ninth of the season, gave the Isles a 2-0 lead, virtually taking the air out of Dallas’ sails.

Late in the 3rd, Trent Hunter got on the scoreboard, icing the victory.  He got the goal from another excellent pass.  This one was from Victor Kozlov, who has seemed to play a lot better lately with York and Hunter.

Rick DiPietro was solid in net, making 35 stops.  He seemed quite disciplined in net, not wondering too far and keeping the rebounds to a minimum.

It was also a special time for the players fathers and mentors, who are accompanying the players on the entire road trip, compliments of Charles Wang.  Trent Hunter’s dad was actually dancing after his son scored his goal in the third period.

My THREE STARS tonight.

1. Rick DiPietro - as if anyone else would be…
2. Alexei Yashin - why the hell is he NOT on the All-Star Ballot?  Let’s start a write-in campaign.
3. Brendan Witt - he played in a great deal of pain, and did a great job helping his goalie

Now the team is off to Florida for back-to-back games with the Lightning and Panthers.  I think we will see Dunny in Sunrise, even though Ricky has been impressive in the last six periods.  Just to keep him sharp and focused, as well as save him for the important matchup on Monday against the MapleLoafs.

Hey Arron - #27 in Blue on Monday night - find him and say HELLO!

I am off from work for the next 10 days, so I may have some extra ramblings to do.  See you in cyberspace.

Gary